Exoskeletons for the elderly are emerging as a promising technology to improve mobility, enhance safety, and support independence in older adults. Recent advances focus on lightweight, user-friendly designs that assist with walking, balance, and daily activities.
Key benefits and features include:
- Fall prevention: Some exoskeletons use sensors and AI to detect the onset of a fall and automatically provide support to help the user regain balance, significantly reducing the risk of injury[1][2][3].
- Mobility assistance: Devices support the hips, knees, and sometimes ankles, aiding those with difficulty walking due to age-related conditions like sarcopenia, osteoarthritis, or after a stroke[4][5][6].
- Improved physical function: Clinical studies show that lower limb exoskeletons can enhance gait quality, joint mobility, muscle strength, and balance, while also reducing pain and fatigue during walking[5][6].
- User-friendly design: Newer prototypes are lighter, easier to wear, and increasingly tailored to individual users’ needs, aiming for comfort and independence without the need for crutches or external aids[4][7][2].
- Full-body support: Some research is exploring full-body exoskeletons to assist with a wider range of daily activities, although these are currently heavier and more complex[8].
While most devices are still in development or early clinical testing, the evidence suggests that exoskeletons could soon offer a viable alternative to traditional mobility aids like canes and walkers, helping older adults remain active and safe[5][3][9].
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- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sg4F9FnOl9Q
- https://newatlas.com/exoskeleton-balance-prevents-elderly-falls/49592/
- https://abcnews.go.com/Health/exoskeleton-technology-protect-seniors-slips-falls/story?id=47371413
- https://www.maxongroup.com/en/knowledge-and-support/blog/lightweight-exoskeleton-provides-safe-walking-assistance-59400
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11014060/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10763092/
- https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neurorobotics/articles/10.3389/fnbot.2024.1348029/full
- https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1613155/FULLTEXT01.pdf
- https://www.technologyreview.com/2016/06/03/108394/the-elderly-may-toss-their-walkers-for-this-robotic-suit/
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